RestlessMonkey

From reading on here, I have started to ALWAYS drink an entire 8-10 oz of water in my doc's office, then in my car before I leave I drink a 16 ounce bottle I bring from home. My doc is in the same city but with our traffic and road construction, a round trip to his office takes just under 2 hours. He, too is busy and has no emergency number. I hope this tip isn't too late to help you! :biggrin: But I agree...if you can't keep water down, don't wait until monday. We dehydrate VERY quickly. You'll end up in the ER.

Honestly it may or may not be your gallbladder. Losing a lot of weight can cause problems in some, but the pain you're describing seems to me to be too low for your gallbladder. I'm not a doctor though; so it's safest to call tomorrow and ask. AND I'd call my primary physician, not the banding doctor. It could be something as mild as trapped gas, it could be nothing. Best to let your doctor make that call!

Welcome Mary Ellen! I'm confused, you want to lose 100 pounds and have lost 36...so shouldn't you have 64 to go, not 96? Whichever it is, it's nice to see you post!

I was so happy to have the band that everything else was minor. No pain. I didn't mind having only Clear liquids. I was so happy! I still love it but things do settle down; once that "honeymoon" stage was over and I started getting REALLY hungry (I assume you mean hunger and not pain? ) I just stuck it out because it isn't for very long. If you mean pain...walking walking walking helps you feel better faster, helps the gas dissipate, and helps keep your lungs clear and your circulation going so you don't run as much a risk for clots. That and liquid tylenol did me fine!

Ask your primary doctor.

You've probably already tried this but if not you might try entering "heliogast" under the search bar (you have to click on "search" to get the box...it's not very user-friendly! LOL)

It's a French manufactured band not available in the USA, isn't it? I don't have one, just wondering.

You should call your doctor tomorrow and tell him what happened. He needs to know; and you don't want to wait until the weekend need to get in touch with him. He may have put a fill in and need to remove it; he may want you to stay on liquids...whatever, tell him.

Glad to hear you're back home and doing ok. Just remember to walk frequently...not a marathon, but enough to keep your circulation up etc...also good for your lungs! :biggrin:

It's not uncommon but call your doc tomorrow just to be sure...Monday is a long way away if it isn't just something "routine".

There are insurance companies who will pay for the coverage but they are REALLY reluctant and act like spoiled kids. They hide the info you need, etc. Hang in there! I'm glad that you caught it NOW! Good luck to you!

I don't have any questions, I just want to congratulate you! How wonderful your loss is!

Arnissha..it may be hard for you to find a surgeon who will do fills on you; you might want to make the appt. with Dr. Jay and then cancel it if you find someone else. I understand that you are anxious but if you've had the band since 2002 you know what to do and can start getting "restriction ready" in the next four weeks. I read over and over about people having problems finding fill docs if they have their surgery away from "home". Barring that, can you fly back to wherever/whomever WAS doing your fills all this time? Good luck!

Not a young guy but welcome and good luck anyway!

Actually the shoulder pain is usually "referred" pain from the diaphragm...and the diaphragm can be discommoded by gas, or swelling, or can just be "upset" post op. Rubbing the shoulder muscles can help (because the pain source is the diaphragm, not the shoulder, but those muscles spasm). Walking, breathing deeply (even if it hurts a bit) and following your docs orders will help you feel better quickly! :bananalama: Welcome and good luck!

How exciting for you both! My first fill didn't give me an iota of restriction but it was still exciting for me because it felt like I was progressing. Most don't have any pain/issues with fills and either way, it is WORTH it! Good luck!

I don't know about the seizure disorder but if it helps, from the seminar I went to, my surgeon's biggest issue was people with autoimmune disorders, so if I remember correctly, that won't pertain to you! I too have done WW....I've lost 40 pounds about 10 times! LOL Always gained it back plus plus until I topped out at 405 and realized I had to have more in my arsenal than what any current "diet" offered. So welcome and good luck!

Hello and welcome! You're doing well hanging in on the liquid diet; it will get worse (bandster hell) but then it will all get a lot better as you get restriction, get full on so much less, and drop the pounds. Good luck to you!

Let me add my voice to "check with your doctor". You don't want it sticking out like a hernia so even if things are fine it may need to be repositioned. It is more common for the port to be HARD to find in us overweight people. Please get it checked out! :bananalama:

Just wanted to point out that as you age, unless you get your weight under control (and you don't say how tall you are; that makes a difference...) odds are that great cholesterol etc will tank. It happened that way to me...each year the numbers got a little worse and the weight creeped up. I agree that until you've given diet and exercise a shot you shouldn't contemplate surgery (no one should take any surgery lightly) but I have news; losing weight (and keeping it off) is hard at ANY age. And from where you are, it isn't going to get any easier. You have the good luck of being able to face this problem now before those nasty "co morbidities" get you. Use the chance the best way you see fit.

I think Plain made some really good points; my surgeon emphasized over and over that if you are a grazer or a snacker, the band will fail unless you can curb that. I personally did a year of behavioral therapy before I got the band (just on my own) to try to figure out why and when I overate, and how to stop it. If you are a person who eats when you aren't hungry, the band may not help you. I love my band and realize that only you will know if it is right for you or not. I don't want to sound sanctimonious either; I didn't get to 405 just by having an extra serving at dinner. For my band to work I must essentially quit grazing. Having said that, once you have restriction (and I finally do, YAY!) it is easier, most times, to not snack. I'm sure whichever you decide will be the right choice for you. I toyed with the idea of RNY bypass because in some ways it seemed easier but in the end, they both require work, dedication, commitment. They both are just tools, not miracle cures. Neither choice is easy, but the results can change your life.

Why can't you do both? Submit the stuff, but keep at it and do your 2/09 appt with doc. If they deny you, then you'll just have 3/09 and can resubmit.

Perhaps the band wasn't the best choice for you? A therapist can perhaps help. I've seen several posts from you about how you're struggling and aren't losing and have other issues; the band unfortunately does not work for everyone. I'm shocked that your teeth have been ruined in just six months but if the band is costing you so much, you perhaps need to have it removed and try to find another path to weight loss. Good luck to yoU!

They call the first few weeks post op "Bandster Hell" and this is the reason; no restriction yet, for most of us, but HUNGER! And it is hard to assuage hunger with liquids; our body doesn't recognize liquids as "food". Hang in there! As long as you are following your physician's guidelines as to what you're eating (ie no solids too early) you'll be fine. Once you can eat, and then as you get restriction, it WILL become much easier. Just hang in there, do the best you can, and use this time to heal. And once you are on softs and solids follow your instructions about chewing well, restrictions on drinking with meals, etc. You'll make it!

You'll probably do this anyway but if it happens tomorrow (or if you're still nauseated) you should call your doctor!